Fang Yuan slowly rose from his bed and walked toward the door. He couldn't detect any intent to kill or hostility from the emotions of the person on the other side. On the contrary, the individual seemed more anxious and frightened than anything else.
Fang Yuan put on his mask and asked calmly, "Who are you?"
Then, after a brief pause, he continued, "Come in."
The door creaked open slowly, and a figure entered the room. Before the person could utter a word, the cold blade of a sword was pressed against their throat.
---
Three hours earlier,
The witch who had helped Fang Yuan repair the bridge quietly disappeared into the crowd of villagers. Feeling powerless, she was constantly searching for a way to escape from the cultivators pursuing her.
However, upon arriving at the village, she encountered a familiar face—the face of someone who had once saved her from being captured.
"Immortal Master..."
She saw Fang Yuan in a village where she intended to hide for a while. This unexpected meeting sparked fresh hope in her heart, quickened her pulse, and cast a ray of light over her bleak future.
When Fang Yuan left the crowd, she followed him to the village inn. She also intended to stay there for a time, but seeing the Immortal Master strengthened her resolve. She entered the inn but hesitated when Fang Yuan closed the door to his room behind him.
She thought to herself: What if the Immortal Master rejects me? Or worse, what if he turns out to have been sent by my father as well, merely using a different method to approach me?
These thoughts tormented her, preventing her from knocking on Fang Yuan's wooden door to ask for help.
As a child, she had heard countless stories about heroes. Night after night, she would relive these tales in her mind before falling asleep.
Heroes were symbols of justice and virtue, dependable even in the darkest nights. They were candles flickering in the darkness, guiding lost souls toward the light—fires that consumed themselves to keep the warmth of the world alive.
She believed in such ideals, and when she saw Fang Yuan and heard his words about justice, the image of those great heroes reignited in her mind.
But now, she was a lost girl trying to play the role of a hero. The word "hero" sounded beautiful from afar, but stepping onto that path revealed its difficulties, deepening her respect for those who had walked it.
The more she thought about her future, the more hopeless she felt. There was no happy ending to this escape. In stories, heroes always triumphed over evil, but reality was far less forgiving.
She saw herself as a savior, but when bandits attacked a passenger train, she didn't take a single step to save anyone, fearing her identity would be exposed. Since that incident, she had been haunted by a question: Can I really call myself a hero?
The more she assessed her situation, the more she realized her need for the Immortal Master. He was a cultivator far more powerful than most, though cultivators, like sorcerers, varied in their levels of strength.
But how could she confirm that the Immortal Master was a great cultivator?
As these thoughts consumed her, she found herself standing in front of Fang Yuan's wooden door. Fear and anxiety gripped her, leaving her unsure of how to start. What could she even say? Could she really just ask a stranger for help? Fang Yuan seemed like a righteous man, but human greed knew no bounds. What if he discovered the treasure she carried and coveted it?
Just then, a voice from inside the room interrupted her thoughts:
"Who are you?"
The girl jumped.
"Come in."
Unconsciously, she opened the door, only to be greeted by the sharp, cold blade of a sword at her throat.
The masked Immortal Master stood in the corner, sword in hand, ready to end her journey at the slightest misstep. But when he recognized her, the tension in the room eased slightly, though he didn't lower his weapon.
"Why are you following me? You'd better have a convincing reason..."
The girl, her tongue tied, struggled to find the right words—words that wouldn't provoke the sword to move. Speaking under the shadow of death was no easy task.
"I... I didn't follow you, Immortal Master! I just... happened to see you. And honestly... I need your help!"
Understanding the situation, Fang Yuan calmly sheathed his sword and said, "Very well. Sit down. I'll decide after hearing what you have to say."
And so, their first meeting began.
---
At the Mist Sect
Three venerable elders waited for the moon to hide behind a dark cloud. Then, they silently navigated through the shops and deserted paths to reach the main gate.
The problem was, everything seemed too easy. And when things were too easy, it meant there was likely a trap or a scheme at play.
The three elders surveyed their surroundings and noticed that security at the gate was weaker than usual that night. Perhaps this should have felt like a blessing, but they were seasoned veterans who didn't fall into such traps easily.
After examining the area, they gathered in the darkness.
One of them said, "This is suspicious. Why would the Mist Sect's main gate have such weak security at a time like this? They've even summoned all their disciples from the surrounding areas, so why would the gates be so poorly guarded?"
Another nodded. "You're right. Something's definitely off. There's no way this is normal."
The third, who had been thinking more deeply, said slowly, "Now that I think about it, infiltrating the mission hall was unusually easy too. The more I think about it, the more it feels like we're doing exactly what they want us to do!"
The first elder frowned. "Hmm... That may be true on the surface, but I don't think the Mist Sect leader would orchestrate something like this."
The second elder quickly disagreed. "No, brother, you're mistaken! That man is precisely the type to do this. The look in his eyes... it wasn't the look of a man who fears or avoids risk."
The first elder paused. "So what do we do?"
The third elder gave a cold smile. "We change the rules of the game."
The first hesitated. "Is that even possible, brother?"
The second replied, "Brother, the best approach is to be unpredictable. I don't trust the Mist Sect leader. Perhaps he's planning to rebel against the Supreme Moon Sect, and our deaths are the first step in his plan."
The first elder protested. "Brother, you're blowing this out of proportion! Don't make mountains out of molehills. Perhaps the Mist Sect leader dislikes us and has obstructed us a few times, but he's always stayed within bounds. You know that if you accuse our ally of such treachery, you'll face severe punishment. The Matriarch doesn't forgive such mistakes."
The third elder, resolute, responded, "Then what's your proposal? How do you intend to change the rules?"
He smiled. "Simple. I'll add a clear variable to this game—one that ensures they can't act against us, even if they want to."
---
At the Inner Disciples' Residence
Yuno made one last round to Yan'er's room. She always finished her midnight patrols by checking on her before heading to a nearby room to sleep.
But when she arrived at her room, she noticed something strange.
No one was inside....